2026 AIS Para Coach Capacity Building and Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant Program

This Grant Program is a Project Para initiative introduced to strategically increase: 

• the coaching capacity of targeted Para Coaches through a grant that enables them to: spend more time coaching Para athletes and/or coach a group of Para athletes who currently lack required coaching support (Para Coach Capacity Building Grant);
• the number of HP Para Coaches through offering an incentive to targeted Olympic Coaches to expand their focus to include Para athletes (Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant)[1]. 

Applications must be made by an eligible organisation (Section 4.1, Guidelines), on behalf of a targeted coach, to address an identified coaching need.

When applying, eligible organisations must indicate which Grant they are applying for and the grant amount they are requesting.

If submitting more than one application, please email Jenni Banks (jenni.banks@ausport.gov.au) advising the rank order of your applications.

Para Coach Capacity Building Grant

• The amount available for the Para Coach Capacity Building Grant is up to $40,000 (excluding GST).
• Eligible organisations may submit more than one application to the Para Coach Capacity Building Grant Program with one (1) Para coach identified per application.

Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant

• The amount available for Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant Program is up to $10,000 (excl GST).
• Eligible organisations may submit more than one application to the Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant Program with one (1) Coach identified per application.

**Please note that the SmartyGrants system locks you out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Activity in the system is saving a page or moving onto the next page, typing answers on the same page does not reset the timer. It is recommended that you save your application frequently, particularly on the long answer questions, so that you don't lose your work.

[1] In this context, “Olympic Coaches” includes any coach of HP able bodied athletes who is not currently coaching Para athletes.

Applications must be submitted by an eligible organisation, and not individual coaches.

To be eligible to apply for the Grant Program, the following criteria must be met:

Organisation

• Be an ASC recognised NSO/D for a Paralympic sport or a NIN Partner (collectively referred to as ‘eligible organisations’).
• Have a HP Strategy and/or Coach Development Plan in place which identifies the coaching need to be addressed by the targeted coach (or be partnered with an organisation that has identified that need – e.g., a NIN partner partnered with an NSO/D).
• Identify, select and support a coach with the ability, qualifications, experience and commitment required to meet the identified coaching need.
• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the coach (including targeted athletes), in consultation with the coach.
• Provide/source additional funds should the funding amount not be sufficient to support the coach.

• Confirm that the coach targeted for the Grant Program:
• is an Australian citizen or has been granted permanent residency status;
• has the ability, qualifications, experience and commitment required to meet the identified coaching need;
• is willing to undergo Safeguarding and Integrity checks from ASC Safeguarding and Sport Integrity Australia (organised by the ASC);
• is interested and available to meet the identified coaching need;
• will commit to and deliver agreed coaching support to Para athletes identified by the relevant NSO/D and/or NIN Partner during the 2026/27 financial year.
• will engage fully and be willing to work collaboratively with the Program (NSO/D, NIN partner, AIS) staff and athletes.
• will be open to feedback and monitor their own progress during the year and be willing to provide feedback.
• will be highly motivated and committed to improving their craft as a Para coach.
• will complete the evaluation tasks for the Program:
• Submit a financial acquittal, written report and recommendations and an evaluation of the Grant Program to the SmartyGrants platform by 5 April 2027

Coaches - Para Coach Capacity Building Grant

• Be currently coaching (or have previously coached) a Para athlete or athletes at the level required to meet the identified coaching need of the eligible organisation.

Coaches – Olympic to Para Coach Incentive Grant

• Be currently coaching (or have previously coached) able-bodied athletes at the level required to meet the identified coaching need of the eligible organisation.
• Be committed to and capable of attracting and developing Para athletes within the grant period (i.e., 2026/27 financial year).
• Be committed to coaching Para athletes beyond the grant period (i.e., 2026/27 financial year).

Important note: In the case of nominations from NIN partners, the coach must also meet an identified need of the relevant NSO/D and be endorsed by the NSO/D’s Paralympic Performance Manager or Paralympic Head Coach or equivalent role, as relevant to the NSO/D.

[1] In the case of coaches who have not yet been identified/selected, the eligible organisation confirms that any coach appointed to meet the identified coaching need will meet these criteria.